UAE files complaint against Qatar at WTO

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has filed a complaint against Qatar at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) claiming Doha has banned the sale of its products.

Abu Dhabi said the Qatari Ministry of Economy has banned the sale of consumer goods manufactured in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt in its market, Emirati WAM news agency reported. The four countries cut diplomatic ties with Doha in June 2017.

According to the complaint, Qatar has removed the names of UAE companies from the list of authorised vendors for infrastructure projects and maintained an undeclared ban on products originating from the UAE.

In August 2017, Qatar filed a complaint at the WTO against the UAE, accusing Abu Dhabi of obstructing the movement of Qatari goods, services and intellectual property rights.

A number of Qatari businessmen who have investments in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt complained that they could not continue their businesses in these countries, forcing Doha to resort to Turkey and Iran to compensate for the shortage of goods.

In December, the WTO accepted Doha’s request to set up an arbitration panel to decide on the case against Saudi Arabia for violations of intellectual property rights of Qatari citizens and companies.

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